There must be many students who are anxious about taking the Waseda University entrance exam, wondering, "What kind of university is Waseda really?" and "I want to know the tricks to passing!" In order to clear up the doubts of such troubled students, we conducted a survey and interviews with current Waseda students, asking them about what they like about Waseda and stories from their time as students taking the exam. Read this to boost your motivation and push forward towards passing!
INDEX
▼What do current Waseda students think is the best thing about attending Waseda?
▼Waseda University students hold a roundtable discussion. Grab your chance at admission using the study and admission methods that suit you!
What do current Waseda students think are the best things about attending Waseda?
First, we will reveal the results of a survey of about 60 Waseda Weekly student readers asking "What's good about attending Waseda?" We will introduce the results along with the honest opinions of the readers!
No. 1: "Convenient facilities" that can be used for a wide range of purposes
In addition to the library and cafeteria, there are many convenient facilities such as a training center with a wide range of machines, private booth-type open classrooms that can be used for online classes, and a center where you can receive guidance on writing reports. Please make use of them when you enroll!
If there is something I want to try, there are university facilities and services to support me, which helps me live the student life I imagined.
Left: Waseda Campus Central Library
Right: Training Center on the second basement floor Building No. Building 30 (Waseda University Student Center) Toyama Campus
★Check this out too → Useful things to know! Introducing convenient services and facilities at Waseda
No. 2: "Meeting friends" who continue to be in touch even after graduation
University life offers many opportunities to interact with people from diverse backgrounds through classes, student club, part-time jobs, etc. If there is a community that interests you, jump in and join. You're sure to find friends you can keep for life.
Diversity is the perfect word for it. I love how each individual can express their own unique style and that even though we are all mixed together, each person's individual colors can still be seen.
No. 3: "Diverse classes" where you're sure to find something you want to study
Waseda University boasts the largest number of courses in Japan, including not only required courses but also many open courses that students from all faculties can take. You can pursue your interests in depth or broaden your knowledge as a beginner. The best part of being a university student is being able to create your own schedule while utilizing the syllabus.
I think that classes where guest speakers include company presidents and film directors are the kind of lectures that can only be offered at Waseda, which has produced so many famous Alumnus.
Left: A scene from Posture and Health 03 [GEC course]
Right: A scene from the Masters of Cinema course (GEC course)
★Check this out too → A class like this! What kind of seminar is it?
No. 4: The most student club in Japan!? "Enriching Extracurricular activity"
Many students are probably thinking, "I want to devote myself to student club activities when I enter the university!" We recommend that you use the "Official student club Guide" to find something that interests you. Waseda University also offers many opportunities for activities other than student club, such as part-time work and volunteer work on campus.
Waseda boasts an overwhelming number student club compared to other universities, so you're sure to find student club that suits you!
★Check out this too → Student Clubs
No. 5: "Delicious Wasemeshi" that meets all the needs of students
The "Wasemeshi" provided by restaurants around Waseda University satisfies the stomachs and hearts of Waseda students. You can be sure to enjoy a variety of genres at reasonable prices. You can also enjoy cheap and well-balanced meals at the cafeteria on campus!
There are a wide variety of Wasemeshi restaurants around the campus, offering cuisine from many different countries, giving you a taste of international flavor.
"Picopicopon" (left) and "Onigiri-ya Kawashima" (right)
★Check out this too → My Waseda Cuisine
Roundtable discussion with Waseda University students: Grab your place in the university with the study and admission methods that suit you!
In addition to the questionnaire, we also conducted a dialogue between current Waseda University students. The two students, who found the study method that suited them and achieved their success, answered various questions about the entrance exam, such as how to choose a faculty and the type of entrance exam, study tips, and points to be careful of on the day of the exam. We will also introduce comments from students who entered through designated school recommendations!
[General Selection (Using the National Center Test for University Admissions)] First-year Master's student in the Graduate Graduate School of Political Science Peng Zhiyin (graduated from Osaka Kyoiku University Senior High School, Ikeda Campus)
[General Enrollment] Tomoki Takahashi, 2nd year School of Education, Graduated from Shibuya Educational Academy Makuhari High School
[School recommendation admission] Suzuki (pseudonym), 4th year, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering *Comment provided only
(From left) Takahashi and Peng in Building No. 37 on Toyama Campus
Every day I feel the power and diversity of Waseda’s brand.
--In the survey, the facilities, classes, and meeting new friends were listed as "good things about attending Waseda," but what are the "good things" for you two?
Peng: Waseda has an environment where you can take on various challenges. For example, there are many Scholarship for studying abroad, which allowed me to study abroad at Peking University for a year. When I found out that Peking University has Tomonkai (※1) and there are opportunities to interact with senior students, I felt the power of the Waseda brand.
Takahashi: Besides the brand power, I think it's easy to come into contact with diverse ideas. School of Education has both humanities and science departments, so there are many opportunities to take classes together with students from both the humanities and sciences, and I think one of the great things about Waseda is that it's easy to realize, "I didn't know there were ideas like that!"
--Please tell us why you two, who are Waseda fans, wanted to attend. Was there any difference in your expectations after you enrolled?
Peng: I wanted to study world history, which I've always loved, so I wanted to study School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and I chose Waseda, which is one of the top private universities. Before I enrolled, I had a vague image of it being a glittering place, but I was surprised to see how many people there were studying hard for university or qualifications.
Peng enrolled in School of Culture, Media and Society Society in the first year, and transferred to School of Political Science and Economics in her second year. "I enrolled during a pandemic, and wanted to study more for exams! Also, I found I could study world history in School of Political Science and Economics, so I decided to transfer," Peng said. .
Takahashi: I liked the sound of "Waseda" so I decided to take the entrance exam (laughs). But actually, I chose biology in high school and wanted to go to a science and engineering faculty where I could study life sciences at university, but Keio didn't allow me to take the entrance exam for biology, so I thought I'd take the entrance exam for Waseda, which I liked. I enrolled thinking that there would be a lot of people who were all about studying, but there are people with all kinds of personalities and it's a very liberal place.
Suzuki's thoughts on "Waseda's merits"
The facilities are really well-equipped, and I enjoy doing experiments every day. The curriculum in the Faculty of Science and Engineering is rigorous, but many students make good use of their time by studying during the week and participating in student club and club activities on the weekends, so I think it's a very diverse environment.
(※1) An organization for Waseda University alumni. There are over 1,400 registered organizations by region and occupation, and they are active throughout Japan and the world.
Find the exam format and study method that suits you best
--After you decided to take the entrance exam for Waseda, how did you decide on the type of entrance exam you wanted to take?
Peng: School of Culture, Media and Society Society had a flexible entrance exam format, so I was able to choose the method that suited me. I chose the "General Selection (Using the National Center Test) (※2)." In addition to taking English and Japanese on campus, I also took the Science section of the National Center Test, in which I had done very well, so I took a total of three subjects.
Takahashi: Yes, I think it's important to find the method that you can use to get the best score. Waseda has a variety of entrance exam formats other than School of Culture, Media and Society, Media and Society, and some science majors can apply to humanities faculties, so in addition to School of Education, I also applied to the School School of Political Science and Economics and Economics and School of Law.
Takahashi says " My hobby is participating in part-time experiments on campus". Takahashi uses the book cards Takahashi receives as compensation for the part-time work to buy textbooks.
--Please tell us about the difficulties you faced while studying for the entrance exams and how you overcame them.
Takahashi: I compared myself to the people around me. While the people around me were passing one after another, I was constantly failing and I was overcome with anxiety. Still, I tried not to deny the "process" of my efforts up until that point, since this was merely a "result."
Peng: I repeated my entrance exams, but I had to push myself and it was really tough. At times like that, instead of thinking about the short-term span until the exam, I thought about what kind of life I wanted to live from now on, which helped me to control the time I spent playing and using my smartphone and maintain my motivation to study.
--To be honest, is there a study method that you two would recommend?
Takahashi: I would just read the textbooks over and over, and when there was something I didn't understand, I would ask the teacher, or I would draw pictures or use my body to think about things... Over the course of my three years at high school, I came up with a study method that suited each subject.
Peng: In my case, I listened to the lectures so that I would not miss anything the teacher said, and I took notes on everything. Just like with entrance exams, I recommend that you use a study method that suits you.
Suzuki's reason for choosing the designated school recommendation
Since I was good at studying steadily, I decided that the designated school recommendation, which places importance on the results of regular exams, was suitable for me, and I made an effort to get the recommendation from my first year of high school. Like Peng, I made an effort to listen carefully to every word the teacher said in class, and reviewed the questions given in quizzes in class so that I would never make the same mistake again.
(※2) Currently, it has been changed to "General Selection (Common Test Method)". For details, click here.
The secret to success is to "never give up until the end"
--What was the secret to your success in getting into Waseda University, and what did you keep in mind on the day of the exam?
Peng: They say persistence is power, and the secret was not giving up until the day before the exam. Looking back now, I think the time I spent studying always paid off.
On the day of the exam, I kept in mind to "do things as usual." Since the mock exams, I've created my own rhythm by wearing my favorite clothes and eating the same snacks every time to calm myself down.
Takahashi: I think luck will be on your side if you keep trying until the end without giving up. On the day of the exam, I was prepared to deal with anything that might happen. In addition to dealing with the temperature of the exam room, I also brought along a piece of cardboard so I wouldn't panic if the desk was wobbly.
Peng: That sounds like you're fully prepared (laughs).
-Finally, please give a message to the students taking the entrance exams!
Peng: Once you become a university student, you can spend as much time as you want doing what you want, so I want you to imagine your university life and the glorious life after that as you study. Also, for people who are from the countryside like me, I want to tell them that Tokyo is a big city and it's fun!
Takahashi: I can proudly say that Waseda is the most fun and fulfilling university in Japan. If you don't get results, don't give up right away. Instead, think that with hard work and luck you will get results, and consider taking the exam again.
Suzuki's "Secrets and advice for passing the exam"
If you are aiming for a designated school recommendation, I think the best thing to do is to start preparing diligently and steadily from an early age. Getting enough sleep and taking time to study in a planned manner worked for me, but I'm sure there are some people who do better if they study intensively for a short period of time. Try to find the study method and style that suits you!
Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC Student Staff)
Planning, interviewing, and writing: Shino Watanabe 3rd year student School of Education
Planning: Hinari Ukiya 3rd year student School of Culture, Media and Society
![[Save version] Map of the four main campuses](https://www.waseda.jp/inst/weekly/assets/uploads/2025/09/17cb2975123fc5103172ef60bd98608d-610x458.jpg)
